Healthcare: Merck runs pitch for cancer drug work

It is understood that Merck has a big-money brief out to pitch for an
agency to work on Erbitux (cetuximab), the leading treatment for both
bowel, and head and neck, cancer.

Industry sources named Chandler Chicco Agency as the incumbent on the
account, believed to worth hundreds of thousands of pounds a year. But
Fiona Hall, European MD of CCA's parent company Chandler Chicco
Companies, refused to say whether CCA held the brief.

Merck Serono also declined to comment. The pitch is thought to be in its
early stages and follows a request for information from several
undisclosed London-based agencies.

Colorectal cancer is the third most deadly cancer among women and the
fourth in men. It is responsible for about 529,000 deaths worldwide each
year. Globally, there are about 650,000 new cases of head and neck
cancer each year, and over 350,000 deaths.

CCA began working on the international brief for Erbitux in 2005, after
winning the business from Burson-Marsteller. Earlier this year, CCC
appointed Anne-Marie Rodriguez de Killeen as MD of CCA following her
appointment in 2009 to lead the global Erbitux account.

Last week, inVentiv Health, CCC's parent, announced the launch of
inVentiv Health Communications/Europe, a company that brings together
its advertising, public relations, public policy, market access, medical
education, marketing, branding and digital services across Europe. CCC
will continue to work under its brand name.